Florida State is upset it didn’t get into the College Football Playoff despite being 13-0. Georgia is upset the Bulldogs aren’t in the CFP after winning the last two national titles. If the Seminoles want to use the Orange Bowl to prove a point that they should’ve been in the CFP, it would be a major upset, considering Georgia is a two-touchdown favorite.
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Florida State is dealing not only with the injury to quarterback Jordan Travis but has also seen leading rusher Trey Benson (1,132 total yards, 15 TDs), No. 1 wide receiver Keon Coleman (658 yards, 11 TDs), No. 2 wide receiver Johnny Wilson (617 receiving yards, 2 TDs) and potential first-round pick DE Jared Verse opt out of this game. Quarterback Tate Rodemaker, who initially replaced Travis, is entering the transfer portal and will also be out. This means we won’t see the Florida State team that looked like a national title contender since blowing out LSU in the first game of the season.
Georgia could see tight end Brock Bowers opt out but is expecting to have more of its team play in this game, including quarterback Carson Beck, who announced he is coming back for the 2024 season. With those two leading the way, Georgia is eighth in the country with 482.9 yards per game and ninth in scoring (38.4 points per game). The Bulldogs are also top 10 in yards allowed per game (295.2) and points allowed per game (16.6).
Florida State’s defense has been elite as well this year, though. FSU allowed 15.9 points per game during the regular season and revved it up against Florida and Louisville since Travis’ injury. The Seminoles have allowed nine points in their last six quarters and held Louisville under 200 yards of total offense. Whether FSU will have the personnel and fire to do that after having their CFP hopes dashed off the field remains to be seen.
These teams have met once since 1984, when Georgia beat Florida State 26-13 in the 2003 Sugar Bowl. Florida State is 5-5 in the Orange Bowl all-time. Georgia won the Orange Bowl two years ago in the national semifinal against Michigan.
All odds from BetMGM. Looking for college football tickets? Find them here.
What is the spread for Florida State vs. Georgia?
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How to watch and stream Florida State vs. Georgia
TV coverage is set for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 30, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. ESPN will provide coverage for the game, and it will be streaming on the ESPN app.
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(Photo of Carson Beck: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
